Celis completes Latte Built challenge

Frank Celis did not only win Latte Built owner Derek Cutting’s fat loss challenge but he also succeeded in taking the first step toward having a healthier lifestyle. He was among Cutting’s eight students that answered the personal trainer’s call of changing their lifestyle last month.

Celis bested five others after two pulled out. He had a 28.4 percent body fat at the start of the weigh-in last month but ended up with 17.9 percent, losing 10.5 percent.

He has been with Latte Built two months after it opened in April 2015 but he found little success after five months.

“I thought I was doing things right. I was exercising and been religiously following Derek’s program but it turns out the way I eat, my eating habits and pattern, was not right,” said Celis, who received $50 and a month’s free one-on-one training with Cutting.

“That’s why I joined the challenge. Stayed committed with the fitness program and started eating right. I worked hard and stayed focus. I’m happy with the result,” he added.

He, along with the other contestants and guests that attended the customer appreciation night last Saturday, further learned about cooking delicious healthy food with the help of Everest Kitchen owner Laxmi Shrestha.

Shrestha showed how to prepare simple, cheap, and healthy recipes that everyone could cook in their homes using fresh ingredients that are available on Saipan. She whipped up an easy-to-make vegetable side dish that is best paired with a boneless and skinless chicken breast.

The only ingredients are bell peppers, cucumbers, eggplant, tomatoes, and tofu. She combined all ingredients and sautéed it in olive oil. After a few minutes, she added lemon juice then topped it off with mint and parsley.

“This is simple, cheap, and anyone can cook it at home. This is a clean and healthy way to eat,” said Shrestha. “(Culinary) herbs are food additives and before we grow our own but Typhoon Soudelor messed things up,” she added.

“Who said that eating healthy food is not delicious? You can find ways to eat healthy but affordable food here on the island,” said Cutting, a bodybuilder and certified personal trainer. James Lee and Cleo Nening helped him oversee the boot camps.

Mike Busby finished second behind Celis to settle for $20 and two weeks of free one-on-one training with Cutting, while Jatanna Sherise went home with an additional $15.

Aside from assigning workouts for the day, Cutting also focused on teaching the basics of nutrition by making basic meal plans for each week. The meals are high in protein, low in carbohydrates, and moderate in good fats.